Head Unit

[dzTT]

Hello Folks,

Been getting fed up with the standard Concert head unit and always having to have the iPod volume fully up to get a clear sound through the AUX port. I've been looking around at some different head units but dont have much money to spare (saving for a new house) so I think the RNSE is out the window as way to overpriced. ideally want to spend under £200 but I can maybe go a tad over if I can get some old car parts sold. I know that I'll need adapters and stuff as well due to the BOSE system.
Just wondering wht you all have on here and what you recommend?

Cheers
Dazz

 

[PH1L]

depends on what you have to trade, but i could part with my rns for not far off that if youve any other bits i was interested im sure that would make up the difference

 

[coolevilangel]

ive the pioneer app radio Hu
While maybe not as 'oem' as the flash rsne unit, its the considerably cheaper option with handsfree, satnav, rear camera tv port etc and sounds amazing with the bose system.
I did, and prob will keep trying to find the rnse unit with media button, but also need to find the glove box section and port for iphone as well so the cost realistically looks to be around £700+ then fit it...
I'll keep an eye out on ebay lol

 

[Ash187]

nice stereos are not cheap, but you could pick something up form ebay for cheap.

i have the new Pioneer double din AV centre which costs about £500 but it has all the functionality you could ask for and more!

 

[dzTT]

So does the RNSE not come with iPod connection as standard then? I've not really looked into the unit much I just saw a few for sale and the price was too much. Im really not bothered about satnav or even touch screen ability, the main reason for the new head unit will be for use with the iPod to give me greater sound and save me having to charge it up every other night

 

[Sidhu88]

Ur looking at spending a good chunk of that £200 before uve even got to the stereo. A good 50-60 odd in parts, leaving u with say £150 at the most for a stereo. £150 for a stereo will only leave u with a good single din. You're not gonna be able to pick up a decent double din at that price unless its used. If i were you id be looking at ipod integration kits to use with the original stereo. This will give u a digital not analog connection so u'd benefit from better sound quality and won't have the same problem with the low volume as you do now. Look into dension, and connects2. Im sure they're are others too

 

[_G_]

i think the concert is pretty decent but the aux input does let it down... if we're talking ipods then why not consider a dension gateway? wayyyy better sound than the aux unit and you can select the songs/playlists from your stereo and see the song names in the driver information display (DIS). £95-120 depends where you get it from and if you get it with the ipod lead... retain the oem looks.. then with your remaining 100 or more perhaps consider an uprated sub/amp... i would say go stealth sub but that would mean stretching an extra £250 or so for the stealth box and sub.

 

[dzTT]

thanks I'll look into the denison option. I already have two 10" Focal Subs and an Alpine Mono Amp that I removed from my old TT which I was considering using if I dont manage to sell them for a decent price although that would mean losing some boot space so not too sure yet

 

[The Governor]

nice stereos are not cheap, but you could pick something up form ebay for cheap.

i have the new Pioneer double din AV centre which costs about £500 but it has all the functionality you could ask for and more!

How does that look in the dash my brother? Was it easy to fit?

 

[Ash187]

Have a lookin my sig mate, you can see how it looks in the dash. Wasn't too difficult to fit. I can fit them for you if you want

 

[Brido1888]

Have a lookin my sig mate, you can see how it looks in the dash. Wasn't too difficult to fit. I can fit them for you if you want

Does it sit flush? Satnav?

 

[Ash187]

This is how it sits now after some custom trimming and fitting, I will work on it some more and get it sitting perfectly but even now it's not noticible when sat back in the seats

It has the pioneer app mode function which has a free sat Nav or the option to buy pioneer sat Nav app for about £60, I however already have tomtom on my iPhone which is what I use.
Check out the specs on pioneers website, search for avh-8400bt

 

[The Governor]

Thanks very much Ash, I'm going to have a little think about that, my car is only 8 months old or so, so I might wait a while before swapping

 

[NHN]

This is how it sits now after some custom trimming and fitting, I will work on it some more and get it sitting perfectly but even now it's not noticible when sat back in the seats

Damn that trims bowed a bit, that would pee me of constantly.

 

[shariain]

This is how it sits now after some custom trimming and fitting, I will work on it some more and get it sitting perfectly but even now it's not noticible when sat back in the seats

That is looking good in there. Was it hard to fit flush. And if you don't mind me asking what was your total cost for the radio and your installation.

 

[Ash187]

Damn that trims bowed a bit, that would pee me of constantly.

Yh tell me about it, gets on my nerves too which is why I wasn't worried to take a dremel to it. Now that I know I can do it properly and it will sit properly I am going to replace it

 

[dzTT]

Well I looked into replacing the head unit, and with the BOSE and steering wheel controls the majority of the budget is blown on adapters alone. So I think I'm going to go with the Connects2 iPod adapter. Only problem is I have no idea which one there seems to be 4 to choose from on thier website (Connects 2,Car Audio integration specialists) can anyone point me in the correct direction?
The car is a 2010 A3 Black Edition with Concert - the 4 options just all seem to say concert

Cheers
Dazz

 

[The Governor]

How does installing a non-OEM head unit affect things like multifunction and integrated bluetooth?

 

[Ash187]

cant say for oem bluetooth but for the mfsw it works perfect... in my case better than oem.

 

[NHN]

That does depend on the head unit used & any interconnect modules that maybe needed, should the head unit not accept can signals direct from the network for mfsw controls.

You'd potentually lose the oem BT, also depending on interaction of aftermarket units.

 

[The Governor]

cant say for oem bluetooth but for the mfsw it works perfect... in my case better than oem.

I can imagine, as the OEM MSFW functionality is ****

While we're talking steroe's... I've got the Bose system in my BE, has anyone else noticed how easily the speakers suffer form distortion?

Not the kind of "crank the system til it groans" distortion, but mid-range distortion, while listening to the radio, it seems especially pronouned when listening to speech, like on radio 4 shows?